Good find - that's a great song as well. Seriously though, people can have mental unlucky streaks (where they truly believe luck has deserted them) and it can be completely delusional. That's possibly what's going on here.

He might have broken one too many mirrors.

D'you want him to stay now Flop?

I can't type it because the bad language software overwrites it, but it had four letters and began with 'p' so don't ask me why it puts so many hash marks in...

If there's a case for litigation, I think we should go for it. Not because I approve of litigation for the sake of it, but a line in the sand needs to be drawn. These guys are taking the ###### and they need reminding that there are certain standards to adhere to and that you can't just go round slagging someone off because you don't like them or because of something(s) they've done in the past. Stuff whether or not they like us: if we sued and won, which sounds likely (and presumably the club's lawyers can work out whether that's possible or not before attempting to pursue a case), then this would set a precedent and ensure that journalists have to be more careful about their comments in future. I certainly don't agree that we should be trying to woo the press by crawling to them and ignoring this incident. That's exactly what they shouldn't be allowed to expect from us as, in my opinion, it would give them a green light to continue with more of the same in the future.

That's the rub then isn't it - they can't handle the fact that there, for all the world to see, was a team that probably cost a lot less than Arsenal matching them for 85 minutes. There wasn't anything else to write about, so they pan us for anything they can find whilst ignoring anything similar from the other side. Bollix to 'em, that's what I say. They can stick their London bias up their arse(s).

Exactly - the only good thing about that paper is (was - as I don't speak as a current reader) the crosswords.

The Standard always write crap about us. Ooh, those nasty hard northern thugs - fancy going out to try and stop the ballet dancing, lager drinking, southern nambypamby boys team from winning. How dare they! It really does just go to show that we still aren't forgiven for having the audacity to a: enter and take part on the big stage or b: win the league! Never mind - they can whinge and bitch all they like - they clearly didn't have a lot else better to do on Sunday. They're not going to be able to think up original headlines over the coming weeks like "Slackburn" which has probably upset their story telling applecarts as well.

Exactly. How can we complain, especially if Arsenal sell out their allocation? further to travel for them and higher cost. Are you having a laugh? I'm guessing you are as it's a good 70 miles further for Rovers fans to travel than it is for Arsenal fans... The journey from Blackburn to Cardiff is not a fun one as many have pointed out - it's a heck of a site more straightforward from London, even if the M4 will resemble a car park on the Saturday morning!

I'll not be there for another reason altogether - 2 kids under 4 is not an option at that type of event. We took Gracie to the Worthington cup final but she was five months old then and slept through the second half. I couldn't even consider it now - they'd drive us and everyone around us mental! I'm actually jealous of all you who are going because it'll be a brilliant day despite the stupid kick off time. Cardiff's a great city to visit, so enjoy it and make as much noise as possible.

1-0, and Nelson to score with a speculative shot from distance.

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle is an absolutely wonderful read and makes you want to move there.

I like your mis-type there Flop. It stands for Anti Smiths Euro Fan.

You must hate me then. Hate's bad for you AESF - it eats away at your soul. Colin - did El Hadj's monster-truck get towed away? If it didn't, it should have been. (but I'm not bitter )

in my opinion, 3 points at Everton was quite as important as anything from the next few games, as it's dragged other teams into the (potential) relegation battle, improved our confidence, and will have knocked the likes of those sniffing behind us a bit. If we'd lost, or even drawn, things wouldn't feel quite so good and we might be approaching the next couple of games with less belief. I tip Southampton to make the great escape this time.

Cliff Richard is the ref ? Now that would be a laugh.

Pedantic of me to raise it I know, but Sherwood hated Hodgson I seem to recall - that was quite public wasn't it?

Again for slow please blue/white? I'm not with your humour there, so you'd best repeat what you mean in words of one syll-ab-le for me, please...

1) El Hadj Diouf (for being a rude word cheat). 2) RFW for being. 3) Steve Bruce, David Gold and Karren Brady equally. 4) David O'Leary. 5) Barry Ferguson for being a spineless, two-faced, whingeing, limp-dicked, waste of space. I could go on...

Maybe he would but we don't actually have a match at the weekend. Ah yes... you spotted my deliberate mistake... well done. Curse that League Cup screwing up my fixtures list! What about Todd's ban though? I don't know if that answers your question ajay.

I wasn't there, so was one of those armchair viewers, but I thought our first 20 minutes were probably our best. I'd echo the statements made by those who thought that Savage, Nelsen, Pedersen and Todd were our best players and I just feel a bit let down. I had the opportunity to watch the game in peace - both kids went down for their afternoon nap just as the match started - and I was so keyed up I actually felt kind of let down at the final whistle. I guess that's because I'd worked myself up into such a state for this game. When Burnley brought Branch on in injury time, I thought we'd lose 1-0 (my nightmare) in the dieing seconds. I really did think that quite a few of our players didn't look like they were up for it (Neill, Tugay and Emerton in particular - he's such a headless chicken). I was really disappointed in Gallacher, who seemed to spend an awful lot of time hoofing the ball or swearing about the injustice of a decision given against him. Anyway, it's a pity Pedersen's free kick didn't go in because that was a hell of a shot and would have been a hell of a goal - I think he's a great player. Respect to Jensen (or "the beast) for playing so well. I thought Burnley were well organised and I found myself surprised - I hadn't done much research into what had gone on there since the departure of Ternent but I must say, Cotterill has them well organised and has brought in some players who certainly know how to spoil the game (ie. stop us playing- had we been playing that is...!). I thought Valois was there best player by a mile and Moore worked his socks off but I was terrified they'd nick a goal from somewhere. As for the rest of the comments about the state of Burnley as a town - it is much of a muchness really isn't it. You can drive through bits of Lancaster, bits of Kendal, even bits of Windermere and see depression and neglect too. Even worse if you head over to West Cumbria - Workington, Whitehaven etc. - time warp or whatever, there is poverty and unemployment, poor diet and social inequality wherever you go. I know they're traditionally our rivals, and I'm as happy to have a go about them eating bananas with their feet, or neanderthals dragging their knuckles along the ground etc., but it does get a bit daft saying one town's worse than the other when we can have reasonably good natured banter. Save the passionate hatred for singing your hearts out at the replay in 11 days time (or however many it is) - which I think we'll win, by the way.

Lancaster City (home town) Hamilton Academicals (because of why they formed) Barnsley (mates, but only when they're not in our division) RSC Anderlecht (used to live there) Blackpool (Hendry) and I hate both Glasgow Rangers and Celtic - nowt to do with Ferguson - I just am fed up with all their oversold "big league, big club, we could cut it in the premier" hype - small league in Scotland, you're from a small league in Scotland... I hope passionately for the day when Hearts and Hibs overtake them both. The good guys will win in the end, even if it takes 100 years.

Nice Cave is bloody brilliant, if you've not got any of his other stuff, i'd reccomend buying the back catalogue. Any particular recommendations as I'm a newcomer to Nick Cave, to be honest? Try the best of Nick Cave -- a review from Amazon from one that knows says "An essential collection of some of Cave's finest recordings. For newcomers, this is but a taste of the action... Standouts (not already mentioned): The Carny, Tupelo, From Her To Eternity".

I don't know what happened to Ade (he's probably reading this somewhere) but I agree with you about Arthur Miller - Death of a Salesman is also a wonderful book.

Last night I was mostly listening to Big Audio Dynamite, This is not a love song by P.I.L. and Love will tear us apart by Joy Division whilst at the same time returning from a slap up Mexican meal. Marvellous.